1. Crime

Petty crime, like in any big city, is common, but organized crime, in the form of the Russian Mafia, is unlikely to affect the average tourist.

2. Emergency

In an emergency, 02 is the official emergency hotline, but the operator may not speak English. There is a police hotline for foreigners. You may also want to consider contacting your consulate if you have a particularly serious problem.

Hotline • 02 • 578 3014

Ambulance • 03

3. Personal Safety

As in any large city, take all the precautions that you normally would to protect yourself. Avoid walking alone at night and keep your passport in a safe place. Watch out for scams, but try not to be paranoid. Women tourists need not feel unsafe, but it is best to avoid travelling alone by cab late at night.

4. Pickpocketing

The pickpocket gangs work the main tourist areas – Nevskiy prospekt is a favourite haunt. Be careful on the metro – watch out for wandering hands and people pressing up close to you. If you can, leave your valuables in the hotel safe.

5. Police

There are different sorts of police in St Petersburg. Firstly, there are the beat cops, or politsiya, who wear dark blue-grey uniforms. There is also the OMON, who deal with special situations, including football hooligans and demonstrations. They are identifiable by their badges and grim demeanours. Lastly, there are the traffic cops, or DPS. The police are notorious for stopping drivers and extracting “fines” for minor infringements of the law.

6. Hospitals

If you become ill, and are staying at a good hotel, speak to someone at reception or dial the number for ambulances. However, the service is slow and the operator is unlikely to speak English. The MEDEM Clinic specializes in dealing with foreigners. If you have minor cuts or bruises, it would be cheaper to go to the Trauma Clinic of the Central District.

MEDEM Clinic • Ulitsa Marata 6 • 336 3333 • www.medem.ru

Trauma Clinic of the Central District • Ulitsa Pravdy 18 • 315 2027 • open 24 hours

7. Pharmacies

The word for pharmacy is apteka. These are very easy to find, with many of them open 24 hours. However, it is a good idea to bring essential medicines with you, as they may be known under different names at the local pharmacies.

8. Dentists

Good dentistry is expensive. The MEDEM clinic provides dentistry services, but they are not cheap. An alternative is to ask your hotel to provide you with an English-speaking dentist.

9. Embassies and Consulates

If you lose your passport or are robbed, promptly contact your consulate or embassy. Note that embassies and consulates are extremely reluctant to lend money, though. The UK, US, Canada and Australia consulates are in St Petersburg, while Ireland’s and New Zealand’s are in Moscow.

10. Racism

An all-prevalent, casual racism is fairly deeply ingrained into Russian society. While much of it is directed at Chechens and other members of the southern republics, non-caucasian visitors may find themselves being stared at. However, the situation is improving as the younger generation is exposed to various ethnic groups.